Letters to the editor for February 19, 2013

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 8:59 p.m.

Children eager to read

The thirst for learning has not been quenched by budgetary cuts across the board in education, and here is a perfect example: I had the distinct honor and pleasure to be the featured author at the 21st Century Reader Book Club: Part 2 at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach last week. Sponsor and media specialist Maria O'Brien invited me to participate with nearly 30 students in the club and share the reading of my book, "Our Best And Most Accomplished," and to engage students in analyzing its message set in poetry about the importance of nurturing, affirming, and valuing our students.

Every student was prepared, eager to be enlightened, and demonstrated an acute ability to think critically and responsibly about the text under examination. They were highly appreciative of their sponsor, Mrs. O'Brien, and her efforts to nurture their interest in the value and the importance of literacy as a lifestyle. Students were respectful and delightfully inquisitive.

Needless to say, I was highly impressed with the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders whose company I was privileged to share.

The 21st Century Reader Book Club: Part 2 is a perfect example of why we need to exercise extreme caution as talks of further cuts in education come to the table. Do we really want to risk jeopardizing opportunities for students to learn to work in small groups and to develop those critical thinking skills which will carry them and future generations through the balance of this century and beyond?

As a retired educator, I wish to commend their teachers, as well as their parents and other caring adults who touch their lives. You are doing a tremendous job. My hope for the future was strengthened even more yesterday, because of your children — our children.

HELEN RYAN MILES

Daytona Beach

Family needs compassion

I have never written a letter to the editor until today. The catalyst was the article in the Feb. 5 edition of The News-Journal about the dad raising his children on a boat, and the removal of the children from that environment. While not an ideal environment, the article did not suggest any child abuse or neglect, be it emotional, physical, or psychological.

What I did read was that Randy Ellis is teaching his children to be polite, to be kind and help others. What I did see is that he is teaching his children that life's hardships do not define you; how you handle those hardships do. What I did see is neighbors helping this family.

There too are many families and children living in cars and other deplorable and substandard conditions. Are all these children removed from their environment?

The Florida Department of Children and Families is, I am sure, overwhelmed with many families in crisis, but when there is a parent trying to keep his children safe and healthy, and there are neighbors willing to help, then keeping this family intact is better than removing the children.

JOAN BAUSERT

Port Orange

Ongoing attack on workers

I wasn't surprised The News-Journal endorsed the outsourcing of janitorial services for Volusia schools. The News-Journal often leans right, and tends to be.

Most conservatives believe in lower taxes, small government, tend to be anti-union, and support outsourcing. Last November, this ideology was apparent when voters rejected a small tax increase to offset budget cuts for our schools. The School Board is now considering eliminating 500 (union) county positions because of this vote.

How sad is it that these dedicated employees, many of whom have worked years in the school system, are to be punished. They are hard-working employees dedicated to their jobs. They live in the communities where they work, and live paycheck to paycheck because for many, their salaries are low. Most depend on health benefits, and look forward to the small pension they will receive when they retire.

Outsourcing these jobs will reduce the quality of these services. Companies who bid these contracts want to make a profit and will need to reduce their operating costs. These cost reductions could be achieved by using cheaper cleaning and paper products, reducing the number of employees and cutting working hours. Special services, such as carpet cleaning, window cleaning, and floor stripping and waxing, would be less frequent.

Experienced workers (current employees who are hired by contractors) would probably be offered employee contributed health and pension benefits, but new hires will probably receive only minimum wages, without benefits, and could be part-timers.

Outsourcing is cheaper, but it's often not better. Outsourcing is hurting the middle-class worker by reducing salaries and benefits. Perhaps we should consider outsourcing police and fire services, all in the pretext of saving money. When will this attack on the middle-class worker end?

TONY SPANO

Daytona Beach

Focus on finances

I am in agreement that the gun issue and immigration issues are important, but the balancing of the budget and stopping the debt from increasing should be front and center.

A combination of a fair or flat tax and a national consumption tax will go a long way in solving both.

Think about the following quotes and great truths from the past:

"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket, and trying to lift himself up by the handle." (Winston Churchill).

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of citizens to give to the other." (Voltaire)

"When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation." (Rev. Adrian Rogers)

<p class="bold allcaps">Children eager to read</p>
<p>The thirst for learning has not been quenched by budgetary cuts across the board in education, and here is a perfect example: I had the distinct honor and pleasure to be the featured author at the 21st Century Reader Book Club: Part 2 at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach last week. Sponsor and media specialist Maria O'Brien invited me to participate with nearly 30 students in the club and share the reading of my book, "Our Best And Most Accomplished," and to engage students in analyzing its message set in poetry about the importance of nurturing, affirming, and valuing our students. </p><p>Every student was prepared, eager to be enlightened, and demonstrated an acute ability to think critically and responsibly about the text under examination. They were highly appreciative of their sponsor, Mrs. O'Brien, and her efforts to nurture their interest in the value and the importance of literacy as a lifestyle. Students were respectful and delightfully inquisitive. </p><p>Needless to say, I was highly impressed with the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders whose company I was privileged to share. </p><p>The 21st Century Reader Book Club: Part 2 is a perfect example of why we need to exercise extreme caution as talks of further cuts in education come to the table. Do we really want to risk jeopardizing opportunities for students to learn to work in small groups and to develop those critical thinking skills which will carry them and future generations through the balance of this century and beyond? </p><p>As a retired educator, I wish to commend their teachers, as well as their parents and other caring adults who touch their lives. You are doing a tremendous job. My hope for the future was strengthened even more yesterday, because of your children &mdash; our children.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><b>HELEN RYAN MILES</p><p> </p><p>Daytona Beach</b></p><h3>Family needs compassion</h3>
<p>I have never written a letter to the editor until today. The catalyst was the article in the Feb. 5 edition of The News-Journal about the dad raising his children on a boat, and the removal of the children from that environment. While not an ideal environment, the article did not suggest any child abuse or neglect, be it emotional, physical, or psychological. </p><p>What I did read was that Randy Ellis is teaching his children to be polite, to be kind and help others. What I did see is that he is teaching his children that life's hardships do not define you; how you handle those hardships do. What I did see is neighbors helping this family. </p><p>There too are many families and children living in cars and other deplorable and substandard conditions. Are all these children removed from their environment? </p><p>The Florida Department of Children and Families is, I am sure, overwhelmed with many families in crisis, but when there is a parent trying to keep his children safe and healthy, and there are neighbors willing to help, then keeping this family intact is better than removing the children.</p><p><b>JOAN BAUSERT</p><p>Port Orange</b></p><h3>Ongoing attack on workers</h3>
<p>I wasn't surprised The News-Journal endorsed the outsourcing of janitorial services for Volusia schools. The News-Journal often leans right, and tends to be. </p><p>Most conservatives believe in lower taxes, small government, tend to be anti-union, and support outsourcing. Last November, this ideology was apparent when voters rejected a small tax increase to offset budget cuts for our schools. The School Board is now considering eliminating 500 (union) county positions because of this vote. </p><p>How sad is it that these dedicated employees, many of whom have worked years in the school system, are to be punished. They are hard-working employees dedicated to their jobs. They live in the communities where they work, and live paycheck to paycheck because for many, their salaries are low. Most depend on health benefits, and look forward to the small pension they will receive when they retire. </p><p>Outsourcing these jobs will reduce the quality of these services. Companies who bid these contracts want to make a profit and will need to reduce their operating costs. These cost reductions could be achieved by using cheaper cleaning and paper products, reducing the number of employees and cutting working hours. Special services, such as carpet cleaning, window cleaning, and floor stripping and waxing, would be less frequent. </p><p>Experienced workers (current employees who are hired by contractors) would probably be offered employee contributed health and pension benefits, but new hires will probably receive only minimum wages, without benefits, and could be part-timers. </p><p>Outsourcing is cheaper, but it's often not better. Outsourcing is hurting the middle-class worker by reducing salaries and benefits. Perhaps we should consider outsourcing police and fire services, all in the pretext of saving money. When will this attack on the middle-class worker end?</p><p><b>TONY SPANO</p><p>Daytona Beach</b></p><h3>Focus on finances</h3>
<p>I am in agreement that the gun issue and immigration issues are important, but the balancing of the budget and stopping the debt from increasing should be front and center. </p><p>A combination of a fair or flat tax and a national consumption tax will go a long way in solving both. </p><p>Think about the following quotes and great truths from the past: </p><p>"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket, and trying to lift himself up by the handle." (Winston Churchill). </p><p>"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of citizens to give to the other." (Voltaire) </p><p>"When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation." (Rev. Adrian Rogers)</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p><b>JAMES S. BROOKER</p><p>New Smyrna Beach</b></p>